Friends, thank you for your support and your votes in this recent election. Although I didn't win my specific race in our district - Americans won on November 7th. We all are winners.
American families all over the United States made their voices heard at the polls. They said that our country is headed in the wrong direction - and that together, we must change it.
For more than a year, many of you have poured your hearts and souls into this campaign. You made phone calls, walked neighborhoods, talked to friends, hosted events, donated your hard-earned money, and you have given so much of yourselves. I cannot possibly describe how grateful I am for your efforts. We ran a hard-fought campaign we can all be proud of, based on a positive agenda for a new direction. We know that we can be stronger as a nation when we face our challenges head on, demand truthful answers, and work in a bi-partisan, respectful way to achieve our common goals.
Friends, we DID win our overall goal in November. We won in places where Democrats have never won before, and took the majority in the House and possibly the Senate as well.
Today I write to you with deep gratitude, great pride and tremendous hope for our future. Though I did not win my election, I certainly gained so much more than I lost and I am so optimistic about our future now. I learned so much from all of you, and from this exciting, exhausting, and enriching adventure.
Our common sense priorities struck a chord all over America. Americans want Congress to get about the business now of promoting educational and economic opportunities, making health care and college education affordable and accessible, restoring fiscal discipline, and keeping our families safe and secure. Your efforts here in Kansas have helped tremendously in creating that national change.
I have asked you all for so much over the course of this campaign. Therefore, I know that you won't be surprised to find me asking you for one more thing - please continue to work to improve our world and our communities.
Election 2006 marked only just the beginning of a Democratic resurgence in this country - with our fellow Americans joining our call for accountability and change. I look forward to working with you, my fellow citizens, as we all continue to help spread our progressive message as we work toward change on important issues such as redeploying our troops out of Iraq, providing universal health care for all Americans, balancing the budget, and protecting our rights and freedoms while still keeping America safe from terrorism.
This campaign did not end on Election Day because this campaign was about more than just electing me to serve you in Congress - it was about taking our country in a new and more hopeful direction. It was about the important task of restoring civility to our political discourse. It was about what each of us chooses to do to build a bright and secure future for our children.
I am grateful to all of you for sharing this extraordinary journey with my family and me. I hope our paths will cross again as we all continue, in our own ways, the important work of building and strengthening our communities.
Please stay in touch, and please stay involved in making our government better.
Thank you for your efforts and for your friendship,
John Doll
Democrat in Kansas!